. >> he said things like coal is my worst nightmare and the country needs a much higher gasoline tax. >> most energy policy people agree with that, but, of course, politically that's just off-limits. >> the head of u.c. berkeley's energy institute said political energy only wrapped up after the solyndra scandal broke. he was criticized for the handling of his lone to the solar panel maker who went bankrupt, laying off more than a thousand workers. >> they talk about that one failure but there are many other successes. >> frank worked at the lawrence national laboratory and said his legacy goes well beyond stimulus spending on energy programs. >> i think ice biggest accomplishment is emphasizing renewable energy, emphasizing science. >> the energy experts i spoke with say steven chu transformed the agency from the department that has been primarily concerned nuclear weapons and nuclear waste to an energy resources organization. >> it's been so great have a nobel prize scientist run the department of energy just in terms of attracting scientists to this important problem. >> khu said he